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Topic Review (Newest First)

07-21-2014 10:58 PM

Kestrel

Thanks for the replies, that's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure as the link in post 19 had said "the long down has nothing in common with a down/stay other than the physical position of the dog" and I wasn't sure if I had to take that literally to the word. Better to ask and be thought a fool than to start doing it wrong from the get-go, lol.

Hi, just reading about this and wanted to give it a try. I just have a question, sorry if I missed the answer somewhere. Does the dog have to be laying down in a "down" position or is it okay if the dog is laying on its side? My dog is almost always laying next to me in the house anyways, so she went right to laying on her side, as usual. I realize this will likely not be the case (laying on her side 100% relaxed) once we star practicing in a more distracting environment, but does the exercise still have the effect if she is laying that way in the house? Sorry if this is a stupid question, just wanted to make sure.

Does not matter whether the dog is in a down or sit. The whole idea behind the exercise is to teach the dog when you sit down, it's time to relax.

Hi, just reading about this and wanted to give it a try. I just have a question, sorry if I missed the answer somewhere. Does the dog have to be laying down in a "down" position or is it okay if the dog is laying on its side? My dog is almost always laying next to me in the house anyways, so she went right to laying on her side, as usual. I realize this will likely not be the case (laying on her side 100% relaxed) once we star practicing in a more distracting environment, but does the exercise still have the effect if she is laying that way in the house? Sorry if this is a stupid question, just wanted to make sure.

I started using this with mixed results until we decided to go down the e-collar path. I don't know if it's the training around the e-collar or he is reverting back to the "sit on the dog" method or a mixture of both, but now, when we're watching tv, he will lay down usually. This and the fact that he gets corrected now with the collar when he is doing something he shouldn't. We have not worked on the "place" command yet with the e-collar or down or sit or any of that yet. We just got started and have only worked the "off" and "come" commands. They, have been drilled into his head. So I don't know how much effect the sit on the dog method has to do with his good behavior in laying down now when we are sitting.

04-28-2014 02:00 PM

NancyJ

LOL, I have been doing this with Beau just to keep my sanity. Didn't know it was a method. If he is not in his place or on a down stay he is into something or another.

04-28-2014 01:38 PM

Curtis

This is something we do just as a part of life. I didn't know it was a technique.

In the evenings I sit on the front porch with the dogs on their leashes. Now when the GSD sees me sit in the rocker, he automatically lays down because he knows he's not going anywhere.

Inside is similar. When he sees me sit on the couch, he will get on his cot usually. Instead of a leash, I used the "Place" command here. Occasional he'll try to entice me with a toy.

I've been trying this a few times a week with Fawn for 10 - 15 minutes. She seems to do fine with it but then again she's fine to lay around as long as I'm there with her so it's not surprising. We'll see how 30 minutes and beyond goes.

I don't cinch the tether so tight, I don't think the upward pressure on her neck for 10 minutes is necessary but I may eat my words later for not doing this exercise correctly.

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